Mike Tomlin on job security: Hopefully I’m not an ex-coach when season ends

Posted by Josh Alper on July 20, 2014, 12:36 PM EDT

Reuters

Earlier on Sunday, we shared Giants co-owner John Mara saying that he didn’t think winning two Super Bowls gave Tom Coughlin the right to decide when his run as Giants coach comes to an end.

Based on his comments on his own job security in Pittsburgh, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin would almost certainly agree with Mara because he’s not taking anything for granted after winning one ring. Tomlin is 71-41 since becoming the head coach and took the Steelers to another Super Bowl, but Tomlin says “I don’t assume that” there’s job security coming off back-to-back 8-8 seasons.

“Hopefully, I’m not one of them [when the season ends],” Tomlin said of having three ex-head coaches on his staff, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The Steelers don’t take coaching changes lightly and Tomlin is signed through the 2016 season, so there’s no real discussion that Tomlin is coaching for his job this season. The Steelers have been transitioning away from the stars of the last generation to players they hope will form the base for another winner, which is all the more reason for Tomlin to see out his current deal.

All that said, the Steelers face the possibility of three straight years without a winning record since 1971 and that would increase the pressure for Tomlin even without claiming his job.

I’m shocked they still want him back. To me it’s a travesty of wasted money and a disappointment for Steelers football in general. Things could have been so much better, but they picked the wrong people to lead this team.

The last time the Steelers won a post season game was Sunday, January 23rd, 2011 against the Jets.

Roethlisberger was 10 of 19 for 133 yards with ZERO touchdowns and TWO interceptions and a passer rating of 35.

Mark Sanchez was 20 of 33 for 233 yards TWO touchdowns and ZERO interceptions and a passer rating over a hundred.

Which quarterback deserved to go to the Super Bowl — and throw a couple more interceptions including a pick six —and which quarterback was once again carried on the back of the Steeler defense and handed a win?

The Steelers would have lost if not for William Gay’s 19 yard fumble recovery TD.

I could have gone to and/or won a couple of Super Bowls with Dick LeBeau as my defensive coordinator. Besides his sweet sweet gobbledygook double-talk and of course the blatant cheating and then blatantly lying about cheating Tomlin does not bring much to the table.

Most everyone knows why Tomlin got the HC job in the Burgh. He had a couple of good seasons with Cowher’s team and assistant coaches but his and Colbert’s terrible drafts and FA gains and losses have the Steelers where they are today…….in deep doo-doo. Chuck Noll’s recent death is just another reminder of what a great HC can do for a team and a city. Tomlin is no Chuck Noll!

huge Steelers fan and obv then I don’t follow every team or coach as closely, but this guy makes so many in game mental blunders, I am constantly amazed that he is not called out for it . The sideline thing is one part of it, but go and watch the end of the GB game last season or his incredible fake field goal call against the Giants two seasons ago. Then watch him manage the clock with 3 minutes left in any close game.

The interesting thing about Tomlin’s teams is their penchant for losing to lousy teams. That 13-6 loss in Cleveland to the 1-11 Browns in 2009 has to be the most embarrassing loss in the modern era.
Losing to terrible teams occasionally is not all that alarming. But Tomlin’s teams have made it a habit. Should that trend continue, the Rooneys need to do some serious evaluating … which isn’t likely to occur until Tomlin’s contract expires.
No way the Rooneys would pay a coach for not coaching.

kremis, spin it how you want but zero winning seasons is the same as zero losing season in this case. I think there is only 1 other team that has an active longer non losing season streak than the Steelers.

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Pittsburgh’s recent record is due to an erosion of overall roster talent. Their drafts have been subpar since Tomlin came aboard. Hence, the question of who is calling the shots on draft day, Colbert or Tomlin?
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They kept aging vets from SB teams way too long, no doubt about that. Some of it was nostalgia, the rest the inability to draft/develop talent.

This team went 6-2 down the stretch last season – got a major upgrade at safety with mike mitchell vs OLD SLOW ryan clark, an upgrade at MLB with vince williams moving from starter to #4 option IF he even makes the team, an upgrade at RB with bell/blount as a tandem, munchak to coach up a high pedigree OL…

You can hate the steelers all you want, you can even laugh at their 8-8 seasons (since thats usually the worst theyll ever do, which 20+ teams wish they could call their worst), but you should acknowledge this team is reloading and will be on the rise again soon…

NFL team with the best record and most songs since the AFL/NFL merger? The Pittsburgh Steelers. They win more often than anyone else, games and titles, whether any of y’all like it or not. When your worst year is 8-8, it means you still win a lot.

Tomlin? Voted top 3 coaches other team’s players want to play for, every year, 2nd this year. That’s the NFL PLAYERS. So who cares what trolls think? Steelers voted top 3 teams other team’s players want to play for too, just about every time they take that poll. Get out your Google and go check. He’s the coach YOUR team’s players probably want to play for too.

Bill Cowher had consecutive seasons of 7-9 and 6-10 before winning his first Super Bowl. They are not going to get rid of Tomlin, so get used to it. I like the off-season they had and I like the way they stack up against every team in their division. Bring it on, kitties, clowns and ratbirds. I can’t wait until they play the games.

Tomlin can’t entirely be blamed here. Colbert had a rough drafting streak from 2008 on (I’m not saying he didn’t find some good players, but he missed far more than in the past), and it has really shown. The past two offseasons, the front office has worked hard to address some of the team’s most glaring flaws, such as age on defense, team speed, and the lack of talent at RB. Now, this is still admittedly a team with flaws, but I think it is fair to expect Tomlin to have a better record than 8-8. Either way, he’s not going anywhere. The Rooneys aren’t trigger happy when it comes to head coaches.

Unlike Tomlin in 2007, Bill Cowher was not handed a team in 1992 that included a top-ranked defense and one season removed from a Super Bowl win. Cowher’s non-playoff seasons occurred long after he had established himself as a quality coach. He was involved in retooling many times over. Different backfields, different QBs, different assistant coaches, different free agents, even different GMs (first Donahue, then Colbert).
Tomlin is entering his 8th season, and we still aren’t positive if the guy’s a good coach. That speaks volumes.

Having been a Steeler fan since the Noll days, you understand that teams and talent base goes in cycles. Having said that, I’ve never been a fan of Tomlin, and that stupid sideline crap really sent a bad message. I do think they’re headed to a better season this year due to a solid draft, but I’m not going to give any real credit to Tomlin yet. He’s just okay as a coach, and if the Steelers continue to slide, then it’s time to replace him. Seems like I’m constantly scratching my head watching some of the moves this guy makes during a game…..

Unlike Tomlin in 2007, Bill Cowher was not handed a team in 1992 that included a top-ranked defense and one season removed from a Super Bowl win. Cowher’s non-playoff seasons occurred long after he had established himself as a quality coach. He was involved in retooling many times over. Different backfields, different QBs, different assistant coaches, different free agents, even different GMs (first Donahue, then Colbert).
Tomlin is entering his 8th season, and we still aren’t positive if the guy’s a good coach. That speaks volumes.

Who is the “WE” you speak of? Of course it’s you because no real Steeler fan in his right mind would let you speak for them. Tomlin has his issues with game management, but he appears to be able to garner the players respect and attention which a good coach does. He is growing in his job so let’s give him some more time as is the Steeler way. I bet you want your boss to do the same right Rambo?

Although Tomlin was handed an 8-8 team by Cowher, two years after they won a Super Bowl, it was still the core of that team that won Tomlin’s title. So?! Why penalize Tomlin for this? He walked into a good situation, but most of that core is gone now. I think only Taylor, Polamalu, Ben and Miller remain from Cowhers title team.

Cowher had bad years too, going 7-9, 6-10, and 9-7, and not making the playoffs for those 3 years from ’98-’00. He went on to win a Super Bowl. If 8-8 over two years is as bad as it ever gets under Tomlin, I’ll be pretty happy. Tomlin is 8-5 in the playoffs, with two Super Bowls. That’s a lot better than most coaches ever get. Cowher was given the chance to rebuild his team when they were down and Tomlin deserves that same chance. The Rooneys are the best owners in the NFL since the AFL/NFL merger, I trust them more than any of y’all and they trust Tomlin.

Until they play the games, we all know that everything for everyone is just on paper right now. However, I like what they did in the off-season and I liked their draft. I like how they match up against the teams they’ll play, especially the ‘birds, browns and bengals. I think the Steelers win their division and return to the playoffs this year. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.

Go Steelers!

P.s.: Bob, you gotta be the only fan around here that trolls his own team.

Noll inherited a 40-year-old expansion team in 1969. His early teams showed steady improvement. No one wanted his head.
Cowher inherited a stagnant team in 1992, and he turned it into a perennial playoff team, going to the postseason his first 6 seasons on the job. He had one 6-10 team (in 2003). Very few wanted his head.
Tomlin inherited a group of players in 2007 that had won a Super Bowl in 2005. Only Polamalu, Taylor and Roethlisberger remain. His teams have missed the postseason in 3 of the past 5 seasons. Against some weak completion, his teams have been 16-16 the past 2 seasons. Perhaps he ought to be held accountable if things don’t improve. Get it?

Noll inherited a 40-year-old expansion team in 1969. His early teams showed steady improvement. No one wanted his head.
Cowher inherited a stagnant team in 1992, and he turned it into a perennial playoff team, going to the postseason his first 6 seasons on the job. He had one 6-10 team (in 2003). Very few wanted his head.
Tomlin inherited a group of players in 2007 that had won a Super Bowl in 2005. Only Polamalu, Taylor and Roethlisberger remain. His teams have missed the postseason in 3 of the past 5 seasons. Against some weak completion, his teams have been 16-16 the past 2 seasons. Perhaps he ought to be held accountable if things don’t improve. Get it?

Was this pretend or real. What is it when you say you are a Steeler fan…pretend or real? Hilarious, but that’s BobZilla

Steelers have 6 Super Bowls/League Championships(Super Bowls back then) in 81 years
Have been to the playoffs 33% of team history 6-2 in sb’s / league championships

Ravens have 2 sb’s / league championships in 18years
Have been to the playoffs 50% of team history
2-0 in sb’s / league championships

Who’s. The better team?
=============================
Yeah. I always laugh about how they “conveniently” forget about the first 40 seasons when they were putrid when they tell us about how “great” the Steelers are. Ask any of them, and these bandwagoners will tell you the Steelers were founded in 1972.

The Steelers have a long history of drafting well, grooming their drafts into great players, and letting them walk in their prime. Has worked up until now. Some are hanging on too long (Troy P) and some have been let go too soon. And the drafts have not been as good. Game day play calling and management- ….ok….if he has a disastrous year this could be it, but I think he’ll turn it around. Could be wrong….

theravenlives2 says:
Jul 20, 2014 6:07 PM
Steelers have 6 Super Bowls/League Championships(Super Bowls back then) in 81 years
Have been to the playoffs 33% of team history 6-2 in sb’s / league championships

Ravens have 2 sb’s / league championships in 18years
Have been to the playoffs 50% of team history
2-0 in sb’s / league championships

Who’s. The better team?
=============================
Yeah. I always laugh about how they “conveniently” forget about the first 40 seasons when they were putrid when they tell us about how “great” the Steelers are. Ask any of them, and these bandwagoners will tell you the Steelers were founded in 1972.

Noll inherited a 40-year-old expansion team in 1969. His early teams showed steady improvement. No one wanted his head.
Cowher inherited a stagnant team in 1992, and he turned it into a perennial playoff team, going to the postseason his first 6 seasons on the job. He had one 6-10 team (in 2003). Very few wanted his head.
Tomlin inherited a group of players in 2007 that had won a Super Bowl in 2005. Only Polamalu, Taylor and Roethlisberger remain. His teams have missed the postseason in 3 of the past 5 seasons. Against some weak completion, his teams have been 16-16 the past 2 seasons. Perhaps he ought to be held accountable if things don’t improve. Get it?

Was this pretend or real. What is it when you say you are a Steeler fan…pretend or real? Hilarious, but that’s BobZilla
———————————————-

Wow how clever of you to create the perfect dope ring. You wish you had a coach that looked at the abuse of women as more than” one of those silly things this summer”
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Can you say Ben and bar restrooms??

I love when Ravens fans conveniently forget that their team is only the purple Browns and they reeked for decades. The Ravens were never an expansion team, they were a stolen team.

Chuck Noll by the way won just 12 games his first three years and I’m sure plenty of people wanted his head. The Rooneys stuck with him and it worked out great. When Bill Cowher missed the playoffs three years in a row and had two consecutive losing seasons, the Rooneys stuck with him even when plenty of people wanted his head too. He won a Super Bowl. Tomlin hasn’t even had a losing team, just two 8-8 teams and he has had to rebuild almost his entire roster from scratch during that time. The Rooneys will stick with him. I trust their wisdom and so you should you.

Nice article just to get the trolls talking. The man went to a Superbowl and won a Superbowl period. The fact that he says he isn’t exempt from being fired tells me he doesn’t think he is riding a gravy train. That’s how it should be. Many coaches could have inherited a good team and still never made the Superbowl. He did it twice so he obviously has their attention and respect. The fact that so many other trolls wants him gone actually proves it to be true.

So much silliness to start the week — sigh. Cowher went 7-9, 6-10 and 9-7 and missed the playoffs between 1998 and 2000. People in Pittsburgh were absolutely howling for his head. The Rooney’s stayed the course because Cowher never lost the locker room and they know better then to overreact. The Steelers went on to a decade of sustained excellence.
The current Steelers team is in a period of transition but there is no indication that Tomlin has lost the team. Other then Ben complaining about the playcalling you never hear a player bad mouth the coaching staff. Tomlin isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Whether he will achieve the same long term results as Cowher remains to be seen.

I’m a Ravens fan and have great respect for Tomlin and the Steelers. Their, the Ravens, NE and NYG success comes from stability. I do understand where he’s coming from. If Mike is fired, or any HC from above, they would be hired immediately by another team seeking success.

joetoronto says:
Jul 21, 2014 12:09 PM
Hiring Tomlin was as political a move as you’ll ever see in the NFL.
He was the best man of color for the job, plain and simple.
……..

I suppose previous topics have already shown the higher than average level of racism among the commenters around here, so really, this is just another example. In the end, Tomlin won the job over Whisenhunt – the coach Tomlin beat for his Super Bowl win. In hindsight, comparing the two men’s careers so far, it would be difficult for any impartial observer to justify ranking Whis over Tomlin. In a league where such a high percentage of players are black, sometimes the best coaching candidates are not always white. So sorry to disappoint you.

Also, in b4 the latest racial credo, “You aren’t allowed to ever bring up racism because racism is just an “opinion” and freedom of speech blah blah blah.” Yeah, everyone has an opinion, but not all opinions are equal. Some are stupid, ignorant, hateful, abusive opinions that should be pointed out for the crap they are. Just because you have freedom of speech doesn’t mean the world isn’t better off when you shut the hell up.

I guess some of the ratbird fans forget that they were originally the browns before moving to Baltimore. 1933 May have been the beginning of the dynasty known as the Steelers organization, but the ravens were an organized team well before there success. Remember, you can take the team out of the city but you cant take the suck out of the team

I respect Tomlin for his attitude of taking nothing for granted, which he also imparts onto his players. If you watch team highlights from the NFL channel, you see that Tomlin is a unique leader. He is a strong motivater and he really connects with his players. They work hard and they have fun. Tomlin brings a winning attitude to the organization. The Rooney’s are smart, and Tomlin is not going anywhere unless he decides to leave (which is doubtful). It is a marriage made in heaven. The Steelers have gotten old in recent years, but made some major changes over this past year to propel them right back into the thick of things. All teams go through build cycles which are inevitable. Smart owners like the Rooney’s recognize this and maintain stability. The success of the Steelers organization tells you all you need to know. Tomlin is safe!

I’m not here to bash, only to provide some reality to Bobzillas posts. Cowher had two 6-10 seasons: 1999 and 2003. Yes, Tomlin has gone 16-16 the past two seasons, but Cowher went 22-26 between 1998 and 2000. Tomlin would have to go 6-10 this year to achieve that mark and with the horrible division they play in along with their easy schedule, I don’t see how this is any less than a 10 win season.

In closing, Cowher was a good coach who could have been great had he not lost more AFC Championship games than he should have. Tomlin is a good coach who could be great if he would bring his team to games better prepared to win regardless of the quality of opponent. I’m glad both will be part of Steelers history.